The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
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Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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Highlights from ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli's return to Earth on 14 December 2017 at the end of the VITA mission to the International Space Station.
After farewells and hatch closure, Paolo and his Soyuz crewmates, departed the International Space Station with undocking at 05:15 GMT (06:15 CET).
Just a few hours later their spacecraft reentered Earth's atmosphere, landing in the Kazakh Steppe at 08:37 GMT (09:37 CET).
The crew were helped out of the Soyuz by a recovery crew and, after medical checks.
Paolo, Randy and Sergey spent 139 days in space. Paolo took part in more than 60 experiments during his Vita mission.